Foreigner Mortgage Guide
Foreign Financing Guideline
A comprehensive analysis of bank margins and requirements for foreigners working in Malaysia.
Tier 1 Major Banks
CIMB, Maybank & Public Bank
CIMB Requirements
Maximum Margin
Up to 80%. For sub-sale properties, typically 80% + 5%.
Customer Tier
Must be a CIMB Preferred Customer (RM 250,000 AUM).
Income
Salary must be directly credited to a CIMB bank account.
Residency
Staying in Malaysia for more than 10 years (requires proof such as property SPA, tenancy agreement, etc.).
Maybank Criteria
Work Tenure
Working in Malaysia for at least 5 years (can try 80% margin up to 25 years).
Short Tenure
If less than 5 years, max margin is typically 60% for 10 years.
PR Advantage
Malaysia PR holders can access 90% margin.
Property Value (PR)
KL must be > RM 1mil, Selangor > RM 2mil.
Public Bank Criteria
Standard Margins
Typically ranges between 70% and 80%.
Approval
Final margin strictly subject to HQ approval.
PR Advantage
Applicants with Permanent Residency (PR) have a higher likelihood of securing the 80% margin.
International Banks
UOB, HSBC & OCBC
OCBC Bank Criteria
Category A (90% Margin)
- ●Holds Malaysia PR, Singapore or Singapore PR
- ●Settled down in Malaysia (married to a local)
- ●Working in Malaysia for more than 5 years
- ●Current staff members of OCBC
Category B (80% Margin)
- ●Established business > 2 years in MY
- ●Management work permit (> 6 months validity)
- ●Bruneian nationals or existing OCBC customers
- ●MM2H holders (proof of stay > 2 years)
HSBC Guidelines
Standard Margin
General allowance of up to 80% for foreign workers.
PR Status
Malaysia PR holders can achieve up to 90% margin.
Income Threshold
To access the 90% PR margin, minimum income must exceed RM 10,000/month.
UOB Guidelines
Approach
Conservative — generally offers a slightly lower threshold.
Standard Margin
Typically falls between 60% and 70%.
Suitable For
Foreigners seeking moderate leverage on local properties.
Specialized Local Banks
Alliance, Ambank, AFFIN & HLB
Competitive comparison of target margins and key eligibility requirements.
| Bank | Target Margin | Key Eligibility Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance | 70% – 80% | Stay < 2 yrs: Salary RM20k (70%). Stay > 2 yrs: Salary RM10k (80%). Valid work permit required. |
| Ambank | 50% – 60% | SNP price > RM 1M. Must provide backup saving or pledge FD. Better if preferred account holder. |
| AFFIN | 70% | Strict limits: Max 25 years tenure or age 60 limit. |
| HLB | 70% – 90% | Normally 70–80%. Up to 90% achievable if working in an MNC at a managerial level. |
RHB Bank Categories
General margin: all categories typically cap at 80% margin.
Category A
- ●MM2H, SG/Brunei PR
- ●Valid permit > 12 months (stayed 24 months)
- ●MNC employees based in MY
- ●Business Director (> 1 year)
Category B
- ●MM2H
- ●Valid work permit (non-PR)
- ●Business interest / Director (> 1 year)
Category C
- ●MY PR
- ●Valid permit (2-year contract, > 6 months left)
- ●MNC Senior Management (RM15k+ income)
- ●Or 1-year CCRIS
Not Sure Which Bank Fits You?
Ann works with foreigners in Malaysia daily and can match you with the right bank — free consultation in English, Bahasa, or 中文.
Guidelines are indicative and subject to bank approval, individual assessment, and prevailing bank policies. Margins and requirements can change without notice — always confirm with your bank or mortgage advisor before committing.